American ballerina Misty Copeland has been promoted to the highest rank of the American Ballet Theatre, becoming the first African-American principle dancer in the company's 75-year history. The American Ballet Theatre announced the news Tuesday on its official Twitter page. In ballet, principal dancers earn not only the respect of the dance world but they also are paid more, dance bigger roles and see their photos in programs, as well as their names in larger type, according to the New York Times.
#ABT announces promotions! https://t.co/kD37B1xapD pic.twitter.com/MWH3vW0ctN
— AmericanBalletTheatr (@ABTBallet) June 30, 2015
Copeland, 32, has been a member of the company since April 2001 and was appointed soloist in 2007, according to CNN. She has been outspoken about her desire to become the first black principle dancer at the company.
The ballet star has been one of the few ballerinas that has broken into mainstream media mostly due to her 2014 Under Armor ad that has racked up more than eight million views on YouTube.
She has been profiled by the news show, "60 Minutes," and was featured on the cover of Time magazine earlier this year. Copeland has also written a memoir and a children's book, has 500 thousand Instagram followers, and was the subject of a documentary that screened at the Tribeca Film Festival, according to the New York Times.
